Chapter 6--Components of the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model

Four main components:

Component 1 - Focus Lessons

• Model content from teachers perspective to the students
• Clue students into standards they are learning & the outcome of the lesson
• Activate prior knowledge of students

Focus Lessons by Janay Lassiter on GoAnimate

Component 2 – Guided Instruction

• Teacher leads students with questions, prompts to facilitate their understanding of content
• Small group instruction
• Guided instruction allows teachers to identify needs on formative assessments and directly instruct students in specfic literacy components, skills, or strategies.

Guided Instructions by Janay Lassiter on GoAnimate

Component 3 – Collaborative Learning

• Student can problem solve, discuss, negotiate and think with their peers to increase understanding of content
• Workstations/group work is key in collaborative learning. Tasks will have a group function combined and accountability for individual work needs to be ensured by the teacher.

Collaborative Learning by Janay Lassiter on GoAnimate

Component 4 – Independent Work

• Students can apply learning in new ways
• Students synthesize information, transform ideas and solidify their understanding

Independent Work by Janay Lassiter on GoAnimate



Gradual release of responsibility model is not linear, student move back and forth between each of the
components as they master skills, strategies and standards.